Chapter 429: Seizing Light and Capturing Flame

The Li family villages held a funeral, with everyone dressed in white and wearing mourning attire. Following the will, Li Xicheng kept the funeral modest. However, Li Jiman, the King of Shanyue, rushed back and wept profusely.

Regardless of whether his sorrow was genuine, his presence showed respect. Li Xicheng helped him up. This person had already reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, indicating his dedication to cultivation over the years.

Yet, for the current Li family, Qi Cultivators were no longer considered a crucial fighting force; at most, they served as mid-level assistants. Every position in the various spirit mountains was highly contested by numerous cultivators. In recent years, the number of Qi Cultivators in the Jade Court Guard had reached double digits, making his sixth-level cultivation not particularly significant.

Li Xijun had been guarding the mountain for two months when he saw the Golden Crow shining brightly in the cloudless sky. He raised his arm, brushed his sleeve, and dusted off some faint particles.

"A thousand miles of ripples on the lake... where did this sandy mist come from..."

He paused, a look of surprise on his face, and sighed in his heart:

"Ming'er succeeded!"

Li Xijun quickly descended and found the cave dwelling bathed in bright golden light, accompanied by a rustling wind. A robed man stood with his hands clasped behind him, his face youthful. Golden light and golden flames repeatedly intertwined around him as he stepped forth, smiling.

"I have established my Dao foundation. I began cultivating at six, and after twenty-seven years, I have achieved the Realm of Blazing Origin."

Li Ximing had broken through to Foundation Establishment over half a month ago. After spending some time stabilizing his cultivation, he emerged from seclusion. Li Xijun, standing before him, calculated for a moment and exclaimed in surprise:

"That was... only about three years! How difficult was it? Did it come naturally? How could it be so fast!"

Li Ximing paused, contemplating:

"The beginning was the most difficult; I struggled to condense it. Although there was a strong hope of success, it would still take at least five years."

"But a few months ago, I suddenly had visions of numerous golden light illusions. My Immortal Foundation spontaneously condensed within me, dozens of times faster than if I had painstakingly cultivated it. It formed very quickly... I'm not sure what caused it."

As Li Xijun listened to the mention of golden light, he suddenly recalled the Sun-Viewing Ring and became thoughtful. Li Ximing, meanwhile, had proudly begun his introduction:

"This Immortal Foundation is called the Realm of Blazing Origin. It can seize heavenly light, capture flames, walk upon light particles, dispel evil and avert disaster, bring forth all things, and... (coughs) endure ten nights..."

In his momentary pride, he let slip a word, then soberly explained:

"It has two great marvels. First, it can seize heavenly light, and using this light to cast spells surpasses most other forms of magical light."

He made a hand seal, and the magical light in his hand indeed turned brilliant golden, dazzlingly bright as if he had cultivated some special spell. Li Xijun, having cultivated the Child Technique, did not avert his gaze but looked directly and nodded. Only then did Li Ximing continue:

"Second, it's called the Bright Blazing Yang Pass. It can summon a Bright Blazing Pass to suppress enemies. As my cultivation deepens, this Pass will grow taller and taller..."

He smiled and continued:

"As for fire manipulation techniques, Yin-Yang union, or walking on light particles, those are minor skills, hardly worth mentioning!"

After all, the "Golden Hall Blazing Origin Art" was a fourth-grade cultivation method, and the Immortal Foundation it produced was very powerful, offering significant all-around improvements. Although he didn't have exclusive cultivation manuals for it, it was still a cut above third-grade cultivation methods.

He was quite pleased with himself and for a moment didn't even notice the white mourning fabric in the mountains. It was only when he saw the sorrowful expression on Li Xijun's face that his own expression belatedly changed.

"This..."

He froze, and Li Xijun, standing before him, sighed:

"Please accept my condolences, Seventh Brother."

Li Ximing trembled slightly and then uttered, as if suddenly understanding:

"Oh!"

Li Ximing's voice instantly caught in his throat. All his joy vanished. He stood motionless in the air for a few breaths, then asked:

"When did this happen? Has Father been buried?"

He asked the two questions blankly, then began to cry. As Li Xijun descended through the air into the mountain, Li Ximing said:

"Eighth Brother... I just wanted to put it off, to see him after I reached Foundation Establishment."

Ever since the big argument upon returning from the Xiao family, Li Ximing had not seen his father again. Li Yuanping, filled with disappointment, stiffly refused to see him first. Li Ximing was deeply afraid, procrastinating day after day, unwilling to face his father's expression. He never imagined that his procrastination would last for years, and his father would pass away before they could meet again.

Now walking through the cemetery, gazing at the oppressive expanse of grey tombstones, Li Ximing's face was streaked with tears, his body trembling from head to toe, drenched in cold sweat, unable to stop for a moment.

He walked all the way to Li Yuanping's tombstone. The inscription was new, detailing his life's achievements. Li Ximing softly collapsed to his knees. Li Xijun quietly stepped back, wanting to give him private time. But Li Ximing moaned:

"...Don't go..."

Li Xijun had no choice but to stand there silently. Li Ximing, before him, seemed more bewildered and fearful than sorrowful. He remained slumped before the tombstone, kneeling for a long time. It wasn't until the bright moon rose and a gentle patter of rain began to fall from the sky that he was startled.

Li Ximing frantically jumped up, looking around anxiously. He took to the wind as if fleeing, stumbling back to his cave dwelling. He tripped over the threshold twice in a row, finally collapsing in front of a stone table.

On the table was a stack of small letters, all placed outside his private cultivation chamber by others during his seclusion. He vaguely picked one up from the pile:

"When will Ximing emerge from seclusion? We have thirteen types of elixirs at home, and their quantities need to be arranged. If you have time, please come to see me."

The handwriting was firm and appeared deliberate. It was signed by his father, Li Yuanping, and dated about half a year ago. He drew out another one, which read:

"If Ximing emerges from seclusion, please come to see me."

This one was more recent, approximately three months old. Li Ximing flipped through them one by one. There were fifteen letters in total, each one more concise and more urgent than the last.

The last letter was from half a month ago. Li Yuanping had finally stopped addressing him as Li Ximing. His father's handwriting was no longer neat, but shaky and scrawled:

"My son, come quickly."

Previously, Li Ximing's heart had been filled with confusion and blankness, with not much sorrow surging up. It was only now that a wave of overwhelming anguish belatedly spread through him. He dropped the letter like lightning, gasped twice, and said:

"Father... Father... I was wrong... Father..."

Thunder roared in his mind, and everything before his eyes spun rapidly. This churned his entire mind, causing extreme pain. Li Ximing's body, from his fingers to his toes, trembled uncontrollably, and the world fell silent.

"Thump."

Li Ximing slowly regained consciousness, finding himself sprawled on the tabletop. He reached out with both hands to gather the letters into his embrace, but missed, and they rustled as they scattered across the floor. The last letter was still caught on his cuff, and the four small characters on it made him unable to bear looking.

Li Ximing was only disoriented for a moment; his Foundation Establishment cultivation quickly brought him back to full awareness. His face was pale, and he stood rooted to the spot, dazed.

He had always been afraid to see his father, only daring to wait for his father to call him back.

Yet Li Yuanping was unyielding, holding out until the very end. As a result, in the twilight of his father's life, from commands disguised as excuses, to indirect invitations, from pleas to the final, sorrowful gasp, Li Ximing had heard none of it.

Li Ximing's mind was like a muddled pond. Only now, at this moment, did he belatedly realize that the things he had been afraid to face would never be faced again in his lifetime.